Chapter Thirty-Six: Kakuzu's Friend

The level 5 [Swordsmanship] skill had been comprehensively enhanced from level 4. Higashino Yu’s body had grown stronger; his sword aura was sharper, and the power of his sword intent had become even greater.

In addition, Higashino Yu had mastered a new ability—Sword Momentum.

The effect of Sword Momentum was rather complex, but to put it simply, it had two main advantages: it allowed Higashino Yu’s sword techniques to be more powerful, and it enabled his blade to harm the enemy’s very soul.

Because Sword Momentum was so lethally effective, Higashino Yu found it far less interesting than sword intent or sword aura. This was also why he hadn’t spent much time studying it yesterday.

On the following day, after washing up, Higashino Yu left the inn, preparing to visit the Exchange House.

Sensing with his spiritual power, he arrived at a secluded alley where a manhole cover lay on the ground, leading to the sewers below.

He walked over, lifted the cover, and slipped inside.

The first sensation upon entering the sewer was the stench. Higashino Yu tried forming a barrier with his sword aura to see if it could block out the smell.

It didn’t work very well, but at least it was better than nothing.

After walking for half a minute, he stopped and knocked on the nearby wall.

The next moment, the sound of gears turning echoed out. The wall he’d just knocked on slowly shifted, revealing an entrance before him.

He looked inside; it was pitch black, impossible to see what lay within.

“Sir, please come in.” Perhaps because Higashino Yu had stood at the entrance for some time, an attendant emerged to greet him.

Higashino Yu didn’t reply and simply walked inside.

“Is this your first time at the Exchange House, sir?” the attendant asked as he led the way.

“Yes.”

“May I ask how you found out about us?”

“A friend told me,” Higashino Yu answered casually.

“Could you tell us who your friend is? Depending on the referral, we might be able to raise your credit rating.”

“What’s a credit rating?” Higashino Yu inquired.

“The higher your credit rating, the more privileges you have. Simply put, you’ll be able to access more information and take on more assignments.”

“I see…” Higashino Yu thought for a moment. “My friend is Kakuzu. He seems to be quite well-known in the bounty hunter circle.”

The attendant glanced back at Higashino Yu, surprise flickering across his face.

“I didn’t expect you to be friends with him. He’s a big deal here.”

“Is he really that famous? When he told me about this before, I thought he was exaggerating,” Higashino Yu said, playing up his supposed familiarity with Kakuzu.

“Haha, it seems you and he are indeed close.”

“All right, sir, this is the registration desk. Since this is your first time here, we’ll need you to register your identity.”

The attendant handed Higashino Yu over to another staff member seated at the counter, explaining Higashino Yu’s situation before leaving.

“Sir, I’ll help you register your identity now,” said the woman at the counter. She appeared to be in her thirties or forties, with a fierce expression.

“Very well.”

“May I have your name, sir?”

Higashino Yu had thought carefully about this question beforehand.

“Wang Luffy.”

The attendant gave him a peculiar look; she couldn’t shake the feeling that the name was a bit odd.

“Very well, Lord Luffy. How would you evaluate your own strength? Or do you have any records or achievements for reference?”

After a moment’s thought, Higashino Yu replied, “I mentioned before that I’m friends with Kakuzu. I often beat him up, so I suppose I’m a bit stronger than he is.”

The attendant looked at him in astonishment but didn’t press further and continued with the registration.

After finishing that section, she raised her head, about to continue questioning him, but suddenly paused and gazed at Higashino Yu with a strange expression.

“Is something wrong?” Higashino Yu asked, puzzled. Then he noticed the attendant was looking behind him, so he turned to look as well.

A man was approaching, emerging from the darkness.

What a coincidence? Higashino Yu was surprised, for the figure was none other than the rogue ninja from Hidden Waterfall Village, possessor of Earth Grudge Fear, the tentacled monster, the many-hearted man—Kakuzu—the very person they’d just been discussing.

Higashino Yu truly hadn’t expected Kakuzu to come to the Exchange House at this exact moment, running into him like this.

At the same time, Higashino Yu understood why the attendant had looked at him so strangely just now—she must have suspected he was making things up, and now with Kakuzu actually here, she was waiting to see a good show.

“Lord Kakuzu,” the attendant greeted him from not far away.

Kakuzu didn’t respond, his attention focused on Higashino Yu. He noticed that from the very beginning, Higashino Yu had been staring at him for no apparent reason.

The attendant at the entrance had just told him that some friend he’d referred had arrived; could it be this kid?

“Kid, what are you looking at?” Kakuzu asked coldly.

Higashino Yu thought for a moment, then answered coolly, “What’s it to you?”

“Are all brats these days so arrogant?” Kakuzu valued both money and his reputation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have constantly boasted about fighting the First Hokage. Being provoked like this by Higashino Yu, he was furious.

Higashino Yu no longer looked at Kakuzu and turned back to the attendant. “Please wait a moment.”

“Ah?” the attendant responded, confused.

“Kid, who do you think you are, acting so cocky!” Kakuzu shouted in anger.

At this moment, Higashino Yu sprang into action.

He stood up, and in a flash, closed the distance to Kakuzu with such speed that the attendant couldn’t see a thing.

Kakuzu saw it, but only just. All he could do was widen his eyes in shock.

The next instant, Higashino Yu raised his hand, chopping toward Kakuzu’s chest with a seemingly ordinary hand blade.

As the possessor of Earth Grudge Fear, Kakuzu had always been confident in his ability to survive. But when he saw Higashino Yu’s unremarkable hand blade descending, he felt a genuine sense of mortal danger!

With a thunderous crash, Kakuzu was sent flying, slamming into the wall and leaving a deep crater before slowly sliding to the ground, unable to stand for a long while.

Higashino Yu paid him no further heed and returned to his seat at the counter.

“Sorry, my friend has a terrible memory and never seems to remember who I am. Don’t worry, though—he’s fine after a beating.”

He paused, then continued, “Oh, and that’s the extent of my strength. Any other questions?”

For a long moment, the attendant didn’t reply, only staring blankly at Kakuzu in the distance, replaying the recent events over and over in her mind, completely unable to react.